Greenwich wants to side-step public opinion over parking restrictions

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Service

Parking restrictions will be added to every street in Greenwich and residents will not be consulted any further as it is a “waste of resources”.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, Greenwich council leader Anthony Okereke said the parking plans were made in a “data-led” way and an extra stage of consultation would only “slow down the process”.

The council removed the requirement for attitude surveys during the planning process, which gauges residents’ reactions to proposals.

However, not everyone agreed that this step should be taken out and a motion was raised calling for the highways committee to view the proposals before it was implemented.

Councillor Matt Hartley said this would allow for councillors, residents and businesses to assess the impact of such restrictions before they are agreed on.

Councillor Pat Greenwell said the current scheme could drive people out of town centres and harm the local economy.

She said: “The success of traffic enforcement schemes can only be achieved if consultation has taken place with the residents to make sure that the right scheme is in the right place.”

Last month, new parking restrictions in Eltham were slammed by local businesses. Suzie Bailey, owner of the Tudor Barn, said she felt like she had been “slapped around the face” by the impact it would have on her customers.

Cllr Hartley told the meeting he was doing the Labour group a “favour” with the motion. He said: “I think the current approach is a recipe for controversy, for wasted time, money and energy for the council. And I don’t want to see that happen.

“I don’t want to see the administration get bogged down in endless controversies over LTNs [Low Traffic Neighbourhoods] and CPZs [Controlled Parking Zones].”

Cllr Okereke, defending the council’s plans, said there was “clear public support and demand” for controlled parking zones in his ward. Councillor Aidan Smith said the idea of further consultation was “horrifying” and called the plans a “talking shop”.

He said attitude surveys, which had been removed from the process of adding parking restrictions, put in “another barrier” and that residents often confused the survey with formal consultations on the scheme.

Greenwich council voted against the motion to consult the highways committee before putting restrictions in place across the borough.

After the meeting, Cllr Hartley said: “This was an opportunity to agree a new approach, where future traffic and parking measures are given the kind of scrutiny and input from residents required to ensure the council puts the right scheme in the right place.”

The councillor said he was disappointed that the Labour group dismissed the “constructive” motion so readily. He said: “I fear this new administration will come to regret voting against this proposal in the years ahead.”

The council’s plan to introduce parking restrictions to every street across the borough was first revealed in a transport strategy document in August. The scheme is part of the council’s ambitions to reach net zero carbon emissions in Greenwich by 2030.

Pictured top: The Woolwich Centre in Greenwich, where the council meets. (Picture: Google Earth)